This week I have a very special guest on the show who almost needs no introduction, Howard Lindzon. Who’s best known as the co-founder of StockTwits, but he’s a man who wears many hats, he’s also a trader, investor, hedge fund manager, entrepreneur and a rock-star angel investor.

So as you could imagine, I was thrilled to have Howard on the show this week. We spoke for around 50 minutes, and discussed the early years of his career (from the days of when he used to work in the back office of a brokerage firm).

We also covered Howard’s methodology around trading high growth stocks and the idea of ‘buy high, sell higher’, how innovative technology may revolutionize the landscape of trading over the next 5-10 years. And on top of this, we also talk about some of the angel investments that Howard has been involved with.

Now if you enjoy this interview, please go to chatwithtraders.com/itunes and leave a review. It doesn’t have to be anything major, even a single sentence would be a huge help (as it improves the CWT rankings in iTunes). I’d really appreciate this, and it’s the easiest way that you can support this show…

When the market went down in ’08 this weeks guest, Michael Melissinos was right there, in the thick of it. He was an analyst on the trading desk at Bear Sterns, and then later at JP Morgan after they were bought out.

Since then, Michael’s left his Wall Street days behind him, and now trades a fund of his own, using a systematic trend following approach, that operates on 40 global markets.

Although I missed a large chunk of the story there, you’ll hear how Michael got to this stage of his career during the interview. And a few of the lessons that shaped him into the trader he is today, including the advice he received from Market Wizard, Ed Seykota.

I also like Michael’s thoughts around why you should consider playing a game that’s larger than money, and the emphasis he places on preparation.

His journey to becoming a trader kicked off roughly 7 years ago, after his interest in markets was peaked from reading through a book about stocks.

While these days Chris has found his edge, he did spin his wheels for several years to begin with, and also managed to run several accounts into the ground. During this time, one of the greater turning points came when Chris found another trader who was willing to pass down his experience, and offer him some much needed guidance.

And as we all understand, to have a mentor on your side is extremely valuable, so I asked Chris a number of questions around this subject which you may find helpful.

We also discuss the importance of repetition in your learning, how to build discipline and also touch on some mindset challenges that can be early roadblocks for developing traders.

I feel like many of you listening will find Chris’s story to be relatable, and hopefully you’ll takeaway a few important lessons from this interview.

I’ve received many requests for this weeks guest, in recent months. Maybe it’s because he’s a straight shooter who doesn’t mix his words, or maybe it’s because he’s bounced back from harsh failures, to become an exceptional trader.

Whatever the reason may be, I know for certain, you’re going to appreciate the raw honesty and insight of this weeks guest – Dan Shapiro.

Coming up from humble beginnings, Dan called on the neighborhood loan shark to fund his first trading account, which got him through the door to one of the largest prop firms at the time. This is where he rubbed shoulders with many phenomenal traders, who helped shape him into the trader he is today.

This interview is ultimately focused on the mental and psychological aspects of trading. We discuss some of the darkest moments from Dan’s trading career, how to handle losses and grind through slumps, trading the setup and not your PnL, and why you should care more about trading right, rather than being right.

Dan was great to talk to, and I trust you’ll enjoy this episode. Actually, it may even be worthwhile for you to play this through twice, just to ensure you don’t miss anything.

I’m Aaron Fifield, your host of Chat With Traders, and here is this weeks guest from New York City, Dan Shapiro.